NEW YORK and MELBOURNE, Australia, March 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mesoblast Limited (ASX: MSB, USOTC: MBLTY) today announced that the Japanese Patent Office has allowed a key patent covering the use of the Company's proprietary adult Mesenchymal Precursor Cells (MPCs) for the formation and repair of blood vessels in ischemic tissues. Japanese patent 2006-503990, entitled 'Perivascular Mesenchymal Precursor Cell Induced Blood Vessel Formation', covers the use of these cells derived from bone marrow, adipose tissue and dental pulp.
This patent provides commercial rights in Japan through to at least 29 March 2024, with potential for patent term extension for up to five years based on duration of clinical development.
The allowed claims cover the use of the Company's allogeneic or off-the-shelf MPCs for cardiovascular conditions including congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, acute myocardial infarction and angina. Additionally the allowed claims cover use of MPCs for certain neurological conditions such as cerebrovascular ischemia or stroke. Other conditions include renal ischemia and limb ischemia (peripheral arterial disease).
Mesoblast has also been previously granted European patent EP1613335, derived from the same patent family, which provides the Company with exclusive commercial rights in Europe to at least 29 March 2024. Similar patent claims are currently pending in the United States.
This newly allowed patent extends and broadens Mesoblast's intellectual property position in Japan with respect to the treatment of cardiac and vascular diseases beyond the previously allowed patent JP 4562816, which covers allogeneic culture-expanded Mesenchymal Stem Cell product candidates for treating damaged heart muscle to improve heart function.
The patent will further strengthen Mesoblast's commercial strategy in Japan under the Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices and Other Therapeutic Products Act, which establishes a framework for expedited approval in Japan for regenerative medical products.
Mesoblast has approximately 67 patent families, including more than 625 patents or patent applications, that provide substantial competitive advantages for the commercial development of regenerative medicine products based on mesenchymal lineage cells.
Mesoblast Limited
Mesoblast Limited (ASX: MSB; USOTC: MBLTY) is a global leader in regenerative medicine. The Company has leveraged its proprietary technology platform, which is based on specialized cells known as mesenchymal lineage adult stem cells, to establish a broad portfolio of late stage product candidates. Mesoblast's allogeneic or 'off-the-shelf' cell product candidates target significantly advanced stages of diseases where there are highly unmet medical needs, including cardiovascular conditions, orthopedic disorders, immunologic/inflammatory disorders and oncology/hematology conditions. The lead therapeutic product candidates under investigation include MPC-150-IM for chronic congestive heart failure, in partnership with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., MPC-06-ID for chronic discogenic low back pain, MSC-100-IV for acute graft versus host disease, and MPC-300-IV for biologic refractory rheumatoid arthritis and diabetic nephropathy.